Back in March, Fox confirmed that FBI agents Mulder and Scully would return to television, and now we know when. The network announced that The X-Files six-episode run will begin on January 24th at 10 PM ET, following the NFL's NFC Championship Game. There's sure to be a load of interested viewers already marking down the date, but Fox is looking to rope in a few more by debuting the miniseries right after a big playoff game. The show's premiere is a two-night event with the second episode following on Monday, January 25th at 8 PM ET in what will be the regular time slot. If you'll recall, show creator Chris Carter will handle director and executive producer duties while David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles as the Bureau's paranormal investigating duo.

For many people, Netflix, Amazon Prime and those pirates episodes of Game of Thrones have all but replaced TV. YouTube's another big draw for "cord cutting millennials," but since its videos are all user-submitted, it's almost powerless to stop its stars being poached by TV networks and movie studios. For instance, Fred: The Movie was a flop, but YouTube must have been terrified to see one of its biggest stars wander off so easily. That's why the site is now setting up TV-style production deals with some of its most popular creators, as well as entering movie production partnership with AwesomenessTV.

Despite the popularity of Netflix's original shows, the streaming giant doesn't actually own most of the content it delivers to customers. It's a situation that the company is working hard to rectify, but in the meantime it has to negotiate with partners to continue serving up shows like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black and its latest hit, Daredevil. The Marvel series only hit Netflix on April 10th but it's already proved lucrative enough for Reed Hastings and co. to renew the series for a second season.

BitTorrent is set to dabble in paywalls by teaming up with an independent producer for a sci-fi series called "Children of the Machine." Rapid Eye Studios will produce and fund the $1 million pilot, which will revolve around teenagers, global warming and technology gone awry. BitTorrent has worked with TV makers and major studios in the past, but is trying a brand new tact for the show. To fund a full eight-episode run, at least 250,000 users will have to sign up for a "BitTorrent Bundle" for $10 after seeing the pilot. Right now such bundles are free, but it plans to introduce paywall bundles starting in September with music content from a yet-unnamed "major artist." BitTorrent told the NYT it's looking for users "willing to reward creativity by paying a fair price" for the new scheme. It admit that it's a risky experiment, though -- users may be too set on a fair price being "free."

We'd heard that Sony signed up Brian Michael Bendis' comic series Powers for an original TV show, and tonight it confirmed that at its E3 2014 event. With Bendis on stage, we saw some concept art and found out from Andrew House that the series will arrive in December on the PlayStation Network. If you're not already familiar, it's based on a detective investigating cases that involve individuals with superhuman abilities. Everyone in the US can watch the first ep for free on their PlayStation devices, while PS Plus subscribers can watch the entire series at no extra charge. Check out the unveil and concept art in the video embedded after the break.

Netflix is going big on original programming: House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black are proof of that. However, no such content has so far come out of the UK. That could be about to change, after the streaming giant reportedly beat both the BBC and ITV to secure a new 20 episode biopic of the Queen, corgis and all. According to Broadcast Now, Netflix is on the verge of finalising a £100 million deal for the series, titled The Crown, which will centre on the Queen's "ascent to the throne at the age of 26, to the present day."

After snagging CBS exec Nancy Tellem and launching a Halo-based TV series with Steven Spielberg, Microsoft's Xbox Entertainment Studios appears to be tackling a whole new genre. According to Deadline Hollywood, the fledgling TV division will launch its first reality-TV series for Xbox Live based on street soccer called Every Street United. Eight 30-minute episodes will be produced featuring undiscovered talent playing four-on-four soccer across eight different countries. The idea is to have the top eight compete in a climactic final match during the World Cup, though final details are still up in the air. The show will reportedly target Xbox's sports-crazy demographic, though the choice seems a bold move for Microsoft -- which is clearly thinking outside the US box.

A few more of these, and it won't even be news. Netflix is going hard into the original content business, and judging by the outstanding results with House of Cards, we're guessing that it'll be aiming for similar results with a different demographic here. Derek, described as something of a comedy / drama mishmash, is fronted by the affable Ricky Gervais. The show actually aired as Dramedy over on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, so while it's not exactly a Netflix original, it's getting "original treatment." Per usual, the entire season will be available to stream at once on September 12th (overwhelming, we know), and if you're looking to decide just how much time you should set aside, the trailer is embedded after the break.

The Xbox One is a big deal for consoles, but Microsoft just made a massive content announcement at today's reveal event -- a live-action Halo TV series. As if the existence of such a television show weren't enough, it turns out that 343 Industries is teaming up with renowned moviemaker Steven Spielberg to bring the world of Master Chief to life in serial form. Spielberg will be the executive producer and the show will provide "exclusive interactive Xbox One content," whatever that means. Unfortunately, neither Microsoft nor Mr. Spielberg are telling when the show will actually be available for your eyeballs to view, but it is, most assuredly an actual thing. And just knowing that the follow-up to Halo: Forward Unto Dawn is coming is enough, right?

Despite having recently introduced the likes of Hemlock Grove and House of Cards, Netflix isn't standing still: it's boosting its original content with yet another production, Orange is the New Black. The new comedic drama series, created by Weeds' own Jenji Kohan, is set to start streaming to Netflix subscribers worldwide beginning July 11th. Similar to Netflix's House of Cards, Orange is the New Black consists of 13 episodes running at around 60 minutes -- however, the main story here won't be based on drama coming out of D.C., but rather a "world populated with unforgettable characters and no-holds-barred humor set against the backdrop of a women's prison." Be sure to peruse the PR after the break, where you'll find more particulars about the plot, as well as the full cast list.

Programs have a certain magic power over littluns, sending them into a trance-like state and then having them beg for merchandise afterwards. The perpetual tinkerers over at Adafruit don't expect you to catch 'em all, though, and have debuted their own show called Circuit Playground -- an educational YouTube series teaching kids about electronics. In the first episode, we learn all about Amperes and are introduced to our hosts: a free-willed human and ADABOT, a charming puppet presenter (just don't tell them that). Following the letters of the alphabet, expect 25 more installments and, if the intro sequence is any indication, a bunch of component-based characters to keep the sprogs interested. If you need 3 minutes and 50 seconds of peace and quiet, or just want to brush up on the basics yourself, head past the break for the first episode. Next time on Circuit Playground: "B is for Battery."

Is the next Mos Def or Azealia Banks languishing in a region where there's no way to get his or her talent across? The producer who's laid down beats for those stars, 'Apple Juice Kid' (aka Stephen Levitin) along with fellow UNC prof Pierce Freelon aim to find out with a new PBS series called Beat Making Lab. In it, the pair take their talent, teaching skills and crates of audio gear to underserved communities in nations like Panama, Senegal and Fiji. The first episode (below the break) takes place in the Congo, where they're shown setting up a permanent recording studio at the Yole!Africa non-profit community center, then giving a crash course in beat-making tech to six highly motivated students. The Congalese artists use that know-how to lay down tracks that reflect their unique personalities and culture, which are showcased at the culmination of the episode. The series covets more than just a nice performance, though, as one student put it: "When the instructors return to the US, it won't be the end, but a beginning for us -- because we'll be able to teach others how to create their own beats."

Adafruit already welcomes newcomers to do-it-yourself device culture, but it still assumes a certain amount of comfort with coding and soldering. The shop now wants to accommodate the most basic of beginners by starting a children's web series that teaches electronics. Circuit Playground will provide activities, songs and stories that put a friendly face on engineering, in some ways very directly: many of the shows will involve big-eyed characters (and, naturally, corresponding toys) like Cappy the Capacitor. Although the series doesn't start until March, it could be vital to a generation of kids growing up immersed in technology -- and ultimately create a larger customer base for Adafruit in the process.

Remember that touchscreen Series 5 Ultrabook that Samsung showed off at Computex last June? Well, it's definitely coming to the US and will be available October 26th, the same day Windows 8 formally launches. As we noted in our hands-on, this is basically the same Series 5 we reviewed earlier this year, except the touchscreen adds some heft (it now weighs 3.83 pounds, versus 3.24 for the non-touch version). As for specs, you're looking at just two configurations, both of which have 4GB of RAM, a 13-inch (1,366 x 768) display and a 500GB hard drive with 24GB of ExpressCache. The only difference is that the entry-level $799 model has a Core i3 processor, while the $899 version steps up to i5.

If that all sounds rather humdrum, Samsung is attempting to spice up Windows 8 by bundling custom apps, some of which you might remember from its various Android products. Sammy's various "Hubs" (Music, Video, Media and Social) are all present and accounted for, as is the AllShare app, which uses DLNA to share content across different devices. Additionally, Samsung is including a handful of desktop applications designed to soften the learning curve for people new to Windows 8. For instance, S-Launcher is a desktop widget that replicates the now-extinct Start Menu, live search and all. eSettings, meanwhile, is a centralized options menu for folks who might not know where to find power management or display settings in Win 8. If you follow on below, you'll find a short video walk-through of some of these apps (Sammy didn't demo AllShare or the Hubs for us, sadly), and we've also got fresh hands-on shots to complement the ones we took back in June.Gallery-163016

Twitter has been making a giant push for expanded tweets from content providers. It's only a short logical leap from that to Twitter providing the content itself, and that's exactly what AdWeek claims may well happen. Its unconfirmed tipsters have the microblog taking a page from YouTube by pitching Hollywood movie and TV studios on "several" original shows that would live in followers' feeds, including the seemingly inescapable reality show. While Twitter wouldn't have someone in the director's chair, it might still play a role by letting viewers affect the show as it's happening -- and of course, running ads. Silence is the only official response to the rumor from Twitter so far; don't plan your viewing schedule just yet, but do brace yourself in case Twitter breaks out a Horse ebooks cameo to boost ratings in mid-season.

If you read our interview with ARM co-founder John Biggs, you know the company behind the processor in most smartphones had quite modest beginnings, what with an office in a barn and all. But Biggs is only part of the story, and Reghardware fleshes the rest out with a two-part series on the "unsung heroes of tech": Sophie Wilson, Steve Furber and Herman Hauser, the team behind Acorn Computers, the British PC company that spawned ARM in the mid-80s. We'll let you click through to the source links to take the journey yourself, but here are a few highlights: earning a computer contract with the BBC, happening upon ARM chips' low power consumption by accident and striking gold thanks to a partnership with Apple.

Amazon has had a content development division for some time but today it's announced plans to expand from just movies to developing (and distributing, via its Instant Video service) original comedy and children's series. The new focus follows the competition like Netflix and Hulu which have both dived headlong into developing original TV show-style content that mirrors the content consumers seem to gravitate towards on streaming services. According to the press release Amazon Studios is willing to option one "promising project" per month for $10k and pay $55k to a creator if their series is selected for distribution. Submissions of 22-minute pilot scripts for comedies and 11-minute pilot scripts for children's shows are being accepted, which Amazon will either option within 45 days or the creator can choose between pulling it back and leaving it up for community feedback. There's more info at the site or in the press release after the break, but just remember: if we see any series picked up about dashingly handsome tech bloggers and the fast-paced lives they lead, we're coming for our cut.

]]>
Wed, 02 May 2012 12:29:00 -040021|20229235http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/nokia-s40-sales-reach-1-5-billion/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/nokia-s40-sales-reach-1-5-billion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/nokia-s40-sales-reach-1-5-billion/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsNokia has announced a major mobile milestone: over 1.5 billion (with a b) Series 40 handsets sold since the first device -- the 7110 -- was introduced in 1999. "We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone," wrote Nokia's Executive VP of Mobile Phones, Mary McDowell. "It is gratifying to consider how Series 40 devices have made mobile technology accessible." Breeze on past the break for the official PR with more information about the Asha 303 handset knighted number 1,500,000,000, then feel free to weigh in on how long will take the Lumia line to reach the same milestone.

]]>
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:37:00 -050021|20156275http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/amd-radeon-hd-6000-cards-receive-vesa-displayport-1-2-certificat/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/amd-radeon-hd-6000-cards-receive-vesa-displayport-1-2-certificat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/amd-radeon-hd-6000-cards-receive-vesa-displayport-1-2-certificat/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
When the certifications come in, you wipe a tear from your eye and ponder how proud you are. On Thursday, the Video Electronics Standards Association announced that AMD's Radeon HD 6000 series graphics cards, including the high-end Radeon HD 6990, are the first to receive DisplayPort Version 1.2 certification. That means the cards are rated to support DisplayPort's 5.4Gbps HBR2 data link speed and also feature increased display resolution, color depths and refresh rates, plus improved support for Full HD 3D stereoscopic displays. For the multiple monitor die-hards, there's also better support for multiple monitors connected to a single DisplayPort receptacle to make your lives easier. Full technical details are in the PR below, but it's good to see a capable card series grow up a bit / become a man.

]]>
Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:17:00 -050021|20123630http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/espn-30-for-30-complete-series-blu-ray-set-comes-to-best-buy-tom/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/espn-30-for-30-complete-series-blu-ray-set-comes-to-best-buy-tom/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/espn-30-for-30-complete-series-blu-ray-set-comes-to-best-buy-tom/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
If you enjoyed the ESPN 30 for 30 series of documentaries, you can finally get all of them on Blu-ray in one six-disc set at Best Buy starting tomorrow. The set has all 30 films plus five hours of extras. The MSRP is right at $100, but since we couldn't dig up the set on Best Buy's site yet, we don't know if it will be on sale for a lower price. Either way, keep your eyes peeled tomorrow if you're looking for a gift for yourself or for your dad. We'd offer up our favorites from the documentaries but it's an impossible choice between selections like Once Brothers, The Two Escobars or The Pony Excess -- based on the content alone this series is a must-have. The press release with all the details and original trailer with clips from several of the segments is after the break.

]]>
Thu, 26 May 2011 17:11:00 -040021|19951321http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/19/hbo-go-app-set-to-stream-its-way-to-iphones-ipads-and-android-d/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/19/hbo-go-app-set-to-stream-its-way-to-iphones-ipads-and-android-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/19/hbo-go-app-set-to-stream-its-way-to-iphones-ipads-and-android-d/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Are you familiar with the HBO Go online streaming service that lets subscribers catch up on HBO's award-winning and ass-kicking TV content? Well, 'appy news for you, dear reader, for it's about to hit smartphones and tablets early next month. Android and iOS HBO Go apps have been teased by a new video on HBO's YouTube channel, with promises of "instant and unlimited access" to "every episode of every season" of your favorite shows, garnished with a selection of hit movies. The apps and streaming will be free to HBO subscribers, who'll be able to get their Sopranos nostalgia on over 3G as well as WiFi. May 2nd is the date on which the teaser video ends, though it doesn't explicitly say that the service will be enlivened then. We'll just have to wait and see.

]]>
Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:41:00 -040021|19917252http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/11/national-geographic-announces-new-series-wants-to-move-aggress/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/11/national-geographic-announces-new-series-wants-to-move-aggress/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/11/national-geographic-announces-new-series-wants-to-move-aggress/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
For avid fans of National Geographic HD, you've now got quite a few more reasons to keep on watching. Aside from upgrading its website with new videos and behind-the-scenes footage, Nat Geo will soon be launching Locked In -- which "provides a look inside a Georgia prison with some of the country's most hardened criminals" -- and Who Knew? with Marshall Brain. Additionally, the popular Dog Whisperer will be making a return, and a number of specials including Herod's Lost Tomb, Secret Service Files, On Board Air Force One and Drain the Ocean are all slated to appear within a year or so from now. Furthermore, it looks as if the network is aiming to "move aggressively into VOD," as it hopes to have the service in 40 million homes over the next year while delivering content in HD to 20 million domiciles.

]]>
Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:48:00 -040021|1136325http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/09/deadliest-catch-returns-this-april-in-hd-on-discovery-channel/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/09/deadliest-catch-returns-this-april-in-hd-on-discovery-channel/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/09/deadliest-catch-returns-this-april-in-hd-on-discovery-channel/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
While the vast majority of reality TV refuses to make the expected leap to high-definition, the producers of the Deadliest Catch aren't letting a few camera hazards scare them off. As predicted, Discovery Channel's hit series is splashing back this April for a fourth season, and yes, it will be broadcast in HD. According to the release, this year will see quite a few "injuries dominate the crab-fishing season," and there will also be exclusive content available via the web and Discovery's mobile portal. The action starts once more on April 15th at 9:00PM ET / PT, but viewers can get brought back up to speed by catching a two-hour "Best of Season Three" recap on April 8th at 9:00PM ET / PT.

]]>
Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:09:00 -040021|1134576http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/directv-queues-up-another-hd-series-on-the-101/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/directv-queues-up-another-hd-series-on-the-101/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/directv-queues-up-another-hd-series-on-the-101/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsFor DirecTV subscribers worried that The 101 would go to waste by broadcasting content solely in SD, we've excellent news. Just weeks after announcing its first HD series on the channel and boasting that it would be covering the South by Southwest Music Festival in high-def, along comes news that yet another series is on deck. Hometown Heroes will reportedly hone in on everyday people "who make a difference in their community," and will seek to inspire viewers throughout the ten-part series to take action in their own neighborhoods. Things get kicked off on April 6th at 9:00PM ET /PT, and we have all ideas we'll be seeing a lot more content where this came from.

]]>
Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:27:00 -050021|1124815http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/directv-gears-up-for-hd-comedy-series-on-the-101/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/directv-gears-up-for-hd-comedy-series-on-the-101/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/directv-gears-up-for-hd-comedy-series-on-the-101/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsDirecTV users have been spotting HD content on The 101 sporadically for some time now, but it seems that the satcaster is getting official with its plans to launch an original series on the channel in glorious high-definition. Slated to debut on March 3rd at 10:00PM EST / PST, Supreme Court of Comedy will "feature real people trying their small claims disputes with America's truest judges of character -- comedians." Those who tune in will catch the faces of Dom Irrera, Jamie Kennedy, Sinbad, Paul Rodriguez and Tom Arnold, and according to DirecTV, it's "completely unscripted." Go on and set your HD DVRs, fine citizens -- you'll have ten episodes of this coming your way starting in just under a month.